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Welcome to Squirrel's slightly nutty world of rubber stamping, papercraft, cats, Formula 1 and a variety of other off-the-wall topics. It's fabulous to see you and I hope you enjoy your time here. Please do pop back and visit me again soon!

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Monday, 30 November 2015

Happy Monday folks! The start of another working week for me, which is really difficult at this time of year with so much still to be crafted for Christmas! Never mind, tomorrow we can start on opening the advent calendars - and if that doesn't fill you with fear, the chocolate countdown, then very little will, lol.

Mind you, all that Christmas stuff still to be done, and here is me with another non-Christmas card!

It feels like a very long time since I used a WRS cutie but this one was a gift from a dear bloggy friend, and it is just too sweet to ignore!

Saturday, 28 November 2015

Afternoon chaps! I bet you are all busy busy busy with your Christmas shopping and plans aren't you? Me, so far I have adopted the Ostrich Principle about the whole thing, but I know that come Tuesday, 1 December, I shall be spiralling into full-on panic mode!

As evidence of the denial that it really is going to happen, I have turned my back on the Christmas cards today and made this little fun one, just because.

You would not believe the debate that Toad and I had over the colour of a policeman's uniform

Sentiment stamp is from Clearly Besotted

Simple black matting layer

Nothing much going on at Squirrel Towers today, except that we will be popping out later to go and have a look for a dishwasher. Toad's dream has finally come true. He thinks the expense of it will be offset by what we save in not getting him Marigolds, lol! Oh, and a Chinese Takeway in from of the telly tonight for the last F1 of the season. Feels like Christmas already!

Tuesday, 24 November 2015

Hello chaps, I hope this finds you well and a little bit warmer than frosty yesterday!

Today the time has come, I am making a stand! Facebook has become a menace to Blogland with all the immediate and instant gratification, along with the one click Like without the need to make an effort to leave a comment. However, many of us have been forced into using it as a way to get our work seen and, like it or loathe it, it seems to be the place to be. However, Facebook has done untold damage to Bloggers and this is where I make my stand.

I used to post here, and add a link with a photo to Facebook. In my naive little world, I had thought that this might bring more traffic to my blog but, in the one-click world, it has had the opposite effect. So, from now on:

I shall be seriously reducing my Facebook time

I shall only post a link back to the blog post for that day with a partial photograph

Yes, I shall probably continue to post Rosie updates if anyone is interested enough but otherwise they will be here, on my blog

How many hours do I waste trawling through posts about who had what for dinner and where they have been shopping? Is it really funny to have the F and C words used so much? What does that really add to anything?

One voice in millions won't change the way Facebook works, but if more of you are brave enough to take the same stand, we might make Blogger the thriving community it once was, without all the dross.

Anyone out there prepared to join me to try and make 2016 a Blog Year?

When I was rummaging for stamps last week, I found poor old neglected Henry and thought it was about time that he came out to play again.

This is Skating Henry from Whiff of Joy (retired I think)

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are from a pad of BoBunny that is at least a couple of years old

Monday, 23 November 2015

Well, it's Monday and it's back to work for me after a week of chillin' (snuffling with a stinky cold) and crafting, so this morning is going to come hard. If only I had bought that winning lottery ticket this week!

I could get used to a life of leisure, just like this little chap for my second LOTV Design Collective card for November.

Saturday, 21 November 2015

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! November has arrived at last. I'm hoping this snap of cold will knock some of those pesky germs on the head good and proper! I might be slightly perverted but I actually love days like this, blustery and squally showers of sleet, but only when I am tucked up safe and warm indoors, lol. It just makes me feel even cosier.

Speaking of cosy, there is nothing quite like it for making you feel cosy than a real fire. That is something I miss in a modern house - the gas fake fire doesn't do it for me, and it certainly isn't the same kind of warmth. We are popping over to the Oldies this afternoon where it is guaranteed for there to be a real fire in the kitchen, and I'm not talking about mum burning the dinner!

Well, that's me for today - I'm popping into town this morning once my hair is dry, and then this afternoon Rosie has a trip to the v.e.t for her six month check-up. You may hear the screams about 2.15ish.

Saturday, 14 November 2015

Morning all (just), hope you are all ok. I'm running a little late today as I have been for a tail trim and colour, and then I made the mistake of sitting down with Rosie. It was a bit of an effort to pull myself away if I'm honest. She makes a great chair warmer.

Back in the summer, Lili of The Valley released their Odd Dog collection. The stamps are all super adorable and can be used for so many occasions. I had been looking at one in particular for an idea I'd had and thought "why not". Here he is for my first November Design Collective make.

If he fills that book with Christmas wishes then he must have been a very good pup indeed!

Painted with Distress Inks ReInkers)

Papers are Dovecraft Back To Basics

Dies are Die-Versions Corner Concepts

Sentiment from Trimcraft

With apologies to you and to Lili for this not being a particularly imaginative or ambitious make. Ever since early September, just before the shingles outbreak, I have felt out of sorts and run down. I'm really lacking in energy just now. Hopefully a break from work this week will help sort that out and I might get some of my bounce back.

Thursday, 12 November 2015

I was very lucky to receive some happy mail at the end of last week from a friend that really perked me up no end. This was just before contracting Toad's filthy germs but I did manage to have a play before the grot set in.

I'm not sure that I would want to share anything chocolate related, but if I was sharing with this cute little fella I may feel differently about it, even if he does smell of fish.

Monday, 9 November 2015

Morning all. Cough cough splutter sneeze. What a way to start a Monday. Poor ol' Toad has been really poorly over the last few days with an absolute stinker of a cold, and the rotten meanie has passed it on!

Anyhoo, some of you may have seen on Facebook on Saturday that we had an inky paws incident. Here's the evidence.

I thought that I had positioned my elbow in an anti-Rosie place, but she can be a determined little devil. So, she jumped up, over my arm, and front paw into the inks. The picture shows Walnut Stain, but my craft bench and her white fur also showed more than a bit of Salty Ocean!

I almost binned this to start again but a very encouraging blogging buddy convinced me that the image was saveable, and she was right (of course).

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Happy dance time

Getting Inky

I use Distress Inks (ReInkers) as watercolours to paint my images. That's with a real brush and real water. This capricious medium does not give the same results each time, so if you are looking for marker pen perfection, you won't find it here!

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Copyright

Whilst I would be incredibly flattered, and just a teensy bit surprised, if you found my work to be inspiring enough to want to reproduce, I ask that you please do not directly copy the designs or copy the photos to claim as your own for any purpose. If you would like to use any designs, please do email me first. Thanks. Squirrel xx

HMS Rosie

About Me

Hi There! I'm Squirrel and have been crafting forever but only papercrafting since 2005. I am TOTALLY addicted to rubber stamping and painting with Distress Inks (ReInkers). I share my life with my darling husband, Mr Toad, and Rosie, the tabby with cattitude. My beloved cat, Vince (see photos below) is missed every day. I work full time in the legal profession which doesn't leave me much free time to play but I still manage a card or two each week! Thanks for dropping by and spending time with me, I hope you enjoyed your visit enough to want to come back again.

Thppppppppt

tim holtz very kindly said

All I can say is wow, wow, wow! Your coloring is amazing! In fact, I myself would love a tutorial from you on how you do it. If you decide to create one I would happily link your blog post on mine when you do. Thanks for sharing your creativity....love the coloring, really, I do.

Tim

My Baby Boy, with the angels now

Distress Ink Gallery

Lili Of The Valley (2015-16)

Former Design Collective Member

This challenge blog is now closed

Without Words CAS challenge

PROUD TO HAVE DESIGNED FOR

The Stamp Basket

PROUD TO HAVE DESIGNED FOR

Crafty Little Fairies

PROUD TO HAVE DESIGNED FOR

So proud to have been a Lili's Little Fairy

honoured to have been a santa's little helper

guest design team member

April/May & Sept 2012

So proud to have been Guest Design Team Member for December 2009

proud to have been a design team member

Sketch & Stash Challenge

proud to have been a 2010 design team member for

Totally Gorjuss

proud to have been 2010 design team member for

ABC Christmas Challenge

Book On The Go

HERE BE DRAGONS by Sharon Penman

Merry Christmas Everyone

Stamp this one Mum

Crumb by David Fletcher

Adventures of a Greedy Blackbird!

Just in case!

wee stamps

toad's origami page

stamp out art theft

Comments

It's always lovely to have visitors to my little world but it's even better if I know you have been! Please don't be shy about leaving a comment - that way I can pop over and see you too! Hugs, Squirrel xx